and many more benefits!

Find us on Facebook

GMAT Club Timer Informer

Hi GMATClubber!

Thank you for using the timer!
We noticed you are actually not timing your practice. Click the START button first next time you use the timer.
There are many benefits to timing your practice, including:

Show Tags

23 Sep 2013, 05:02

Hi everyone!

I did the GMAT Prep yesterday and got 710 (Q 44, V 42) without any previous practicing. As I want to apply for a top Master program and my GPA isn't solid, I need a GMAT of above 740. Do you think it will be possible to achieve this with two months of practicing (app. 3-4hrs/day)?

As my result indicate I had the most trouble with the quantitative section and one reason is that I lack knowledge in some of the advanced math but I have also forgotten some of the basics. I basically wonder if you guys, that are experts, could give any insights in whether the verbal or the quant is the easiest to achieve a substantial increase on?

Show Tags

I did the GMAT Prep yesterday and got 710 (Q 44, V 42) without any previous practicing. As I want to apply for a top Master program and my GPA isn't solid, I need a GMAT of above 740. Do you think it will be possible to achieve this with two months of practicing (app. 3-4hrs/day)?

As my result indicate I had the most trouble with the quantitative section and one reason is that I lack knowledge in some of the advanced math but I have also forgotten some of the basics. I basically wonder if you guys, that are experts, could give any insights in whether the verbal or the quant is the easiest to achieve a substantial increase on?

Thanks!

Dear Dasboot,First of all, congratulations on a very impressive performance on a "cold" practice GMAT! That's great! In answer to your first question, it's definitely possible to have that kind of improvement, or more, with a solid two months of practicing. Here's a three-month practice schedule designed for someone at your level: http://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/3-month-gm ... -students/You'll have to do some adjustment to fit it into a two-month framework, but if you are working 3-4 hr/day, that shouldn't be a problem.

As for your second question, it's harder to say, in part because you already are the upper percentile range on both Q & V. I would say, at this point, it's going to be hard to make substantial changes only because there's so much you already know --- the folks who can make the biggest improvements are the folks who need to learn basics concepts, if you see what I mean. Which section holds the most promise for improvement for you depends also on your particular proclivities --- exactly what V mistakes are you making? of exactly what Q concepts are you not sure? The devil is in the details! I would tend to recommend: devote your time 45% to Q, 45% to V, with a modicum to AWA & IR. Focus on (a) what you know you don't know, and (b) the most advanced concepts in each area. That will give you the most improvement from where you are now.

Show Tags

23 Sep 2013, 11:36

Hi Mike!

Thank you for a fantastically thorough response! I'm glad to hear that you believe it will be possible to achieve a result of 740+ with something like two months of 3-4 hours of daily practicing and I will definitely look into your schedule!

Regarding the second question, I do actually have some problem with some of the basics in the Q section. Prime numbers and prime factorization are concepts that are completely new to me as are questions like: “Is the integer x divisible by 6 ?

(1) x + 3 is divisible by 3 (2) x + 3 is an odd number “

So I believe practicing on concepts like these could boost my Q-score quite a lot.

Regarding the V-section, 4 of my 7 incorrect answers were on sentence-correction questions. So if you have any good guidance regarding SC please share ☺ I already have the MGMAT which I believe will be useful for the Q-part, but I’ve heard that it isn’t as strong on the V-part.

Show Tags

Thank you for a fantastically thorough response! I'm glad to hear that you believe it will be possible to achieve a result of 740+ with something like two months of 3-4 hours of daily practicing and I will definitely look into your schedule!

Regarding the second question, I do actually have some problem with some of the basics in the Q section. Prime numbers and prime factorization are concepts that are completely new to me as are questions like: “Is the integer x divisible by 6 ?

(1) x + 3 is divisible by 3 (2) x + 3 is an odd number “

So I believe practicing on concepts like these could boost my Q-score quite a lot.

Regarding the V-section, 4 of my 7 incorrect answers were on sentence-correction questions. So if you have any good guidance regarding SC please share ☺ I already have the MGMAT which I believe will be useful for the Q-part, but I’ve heard that it isn’t as strong on the V-part.

Also, I would say --- math is not a spectator sport. You learn math best by doing math. For example, once you have solved that DS question above, it probably would help to take a list of numbers --- say, all the numbers from 21 to 40. Of the numbers on that list, if that number were equal to x --- would statement #1 be true? would statement #2 be true? look for patterns. Much of mathematical understanding in general, and number properties in particular, is understanding the patterns at play.

For SC, here's a free idiom ebook you may find helpful:http://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-idiom-ebook/Also, you will find several articles on that blog about GMAT SC, and many of those articles have practice questions in them. Here's a free SC question:http://gmat.magoosh.com/questions/3218Again, after you answer the question, the next page will have a video explanation. Each one of our practice GMAT questions has its own video explanation, for accelerated learning. BTW, my sense is that the MGMAT books are dynamite both for Q and for V --- they contain a ton of information and handle very sophisticated points, so they are perfect for someone such as you.